Social Studies

6th Grade:  Social Studies 6

Social Studies 6 is a geography-based course that introduces students to the physical and human geography of the world.  Students will explore patterns of natural and human characteristics and use case studies to examine how the physical environment has provided both benefits and obstacles to human society. In doing so, students will explore how humans have used, adapted, or modified their environment and the consequences. Students will examine a variety of global issues that come from human activities such as migration and settlement, culture and cultural diffusion, population and demographic changes, resource use, and increasing networks of trade and economic interdependence.  Students will investigate how local, national, and international governmental and non- governmental organizations respond to contemporary issues.  The different regions of the world will be used to illuminate examples of how these global issues or problems affect people in places around the world. They will deepen their understanding of the disciplines of history, geography, economics and political science.  Students will explore how all of these social studies fields are both complementary and interdependent.

7th Grade:  Social Studies 7

The seventh grade social studies curriculum focuses on ancient world history and geography with a deliberate focus on the content literacy. Students investigate human history from the beginning until around 1500. They chronologically explore major and significant changes through each era. Students learn about the earliest humans and explore early migration and settlement patterns. Students examine how the emergence of pastoral and agrarian societies set the stage for the development of powerful empires, trade networks, and the diffusion of people, resources, and ideas.

* The seventh grade social studies curriculum focuses on ancient world history/geography with deliberate focus on content literacy.

8th Grade:  American History 8

The purpose of this course is to develop the student's understanding of the heritage that shaped the United States as a democratic nation. United States history is surveyed from the time of the Native Americans to 1877 by looking at political, economic, and social changes of our nation. Native Americans, exploration and colonization will be reviewed. The American Revolution, formation of our national government, westward movement, and the Civil War and Reconstruction will be studied in detail. The course will periodically include the study of Michigan history and U.S. foreign affairs. The study of American history will prepare students to become responsible citizens.